Street-car coupler



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. L. JOHNSON. STREET GAR COUPLER,

No. 416,367. Patented Dec. 8, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. L. JOHNSON. STREET GAR COUPLER.

No. 416,367. Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOM L. JOHNSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STREET-CAR COUPLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,367, dated December 3, 1889.

Application filed July 29, 1889. Serial No. 319,012. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TOM L. JOHNSON, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Oar Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in street-car couplers; and it consists in certain features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan showing the relation of parts in turning curves of the track.

A represents the body of the draw-head, the diverging Walls of which inclose a hopper-shaped recess A, for the reception of the coupler-bar B. A broad flange a, rib a, bosses a and ears a are all cast integral with the drawhead, the flange and ears being pierced vertically, as shown, for the reception of securing-bolts, by means of which the draw-head is rigidly attached to the under side of the frame-work of the car. Bosses a are pierced Vertically for receiving the coupling-pin O. The coupling-pin fits the hole in bar B as snugly as may be without cramping, whereby little or no lost motion is had, the internal edges of the bar around the hole above and below being rounded, as shown at loaded, together with variations of the track-' rails, &c. The draw-head is preferably set back some distance under the platform of the car, where it is entirely out of the way, and where the lateral swaying is something less than at the extreme end of the platform. Bar B is long enough to separate the cars, so that the corners of the platforms do not collide in turning short curves in the track. The flaring recess A accommodates the coupling-bar in its lateral and vertical swinging movements, so that the bar does not collide with coupled cars.

Among the merits of this coupling device may be mentioned its strength, durability, extreme simplicity, and small initial cost.

. What I claim is- A coupler for street-cars consisting, essentially, of draw-heads having flaring recesses for the coupling-bar, perforated bosses near the rear end of the recesses for the couplingpins, and perforations for their attachment to the under side of the platforms, and a long coupling-bar, the latter having openings but slightly greater in diameter than the coupling-pins, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of June, 1889.

- TOM L. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

THos. H. DORER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

